[Open] You're out of time

[judgemewhole]

WHO: James Norrington and You.
WHAT: Even Knight Commanders need to blow off steam
WHEN: Backdated to after 'Can't We All Just Get Along?'
WHERE: Skyhold proper - courtyard and Herald's Rest
NOTES: Warnings for violence, possible R-rated actions of sexual nature, and a Templar cursing like an Antivan sailor.

To say that Knight Commander Norrington came back from the Warden Camp in a 'mood' was something of an understatement. The moment he entered Skyhold proper, he was pulling on his full Templar armor, grabbing his sword and shield, and going directly to the practice dummies.

Later on, one could find him in the Herald's Rest. There are at least two bottles of wine in front of him, and he is not dressed in uniform. In fact, he's dressed down to the point of just tunics and breeches, singing softly to the song that the bard is belting away in the front of the tavern. He looks like he could use the company - or at least another bottle of wine if you are inclined.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Her responding laughter isn't derisive, just one of weary understanding as she plops down in the seat. Nodding in thanks, she gestures for a simple refill.

"It happened often enough with the Mage Council; those first few months, it was constant. If it wasn't for Adelaide's wine-and-bitch parties afterward so we could let off some steam, the whole thing could have exploded--maybe even with actual scorch marks on the walls. These days, it's less exciting but that doesn't mean tensions never flare up anymore. And when they do, I get the same urge to drink myself stupid afterward."

[judgemewhole]

He took another long drink, before he sighed. Nodded with understanding, and then he said with a touch of wistfulness, "I miss Adelaide. She was ... well. She was truly a woman of extreme merit." The faintest of smiles, "And amazing taste in wine."

He leaned his face on his fist, and the look on his face could only be some sort of grumpy frown. "I really want to hit Anders in the face, Korrin. Yet I cannot say he is is wrong in his condemnations. I just hate hearing them - over and over and over again ..."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin lets out a contemptuous snort at mention of Anders, expression hardening. "You're not the only one, believe me. Anders is the equivalent of someone farting in your face and then complaining when you have the audacity to wave away the stench. He's given mages all over a bad name and the fact that he's still alive and breathing is a slap in the face. Just because Circle mages have suffered -and they have, no denying it- doesn't mean what he did was justified. The only reason I haven't punched him in the face is because I don't want to fuel that damn martyr complex even more." She takes another swig to get the bad taste out of her mouth.

[judgemewhole]

Something close to relief came over James's face then, and he very promptly waited until she had drained her ale mug to pour her some of his wine. He exhaled, pounding his fist on the table, "Precisely. Things were never going to get better for the mages by someone being a Maker be damned terrorist. If nothing, it made people fear mages more."

He grumped at his drink, before he pointed a finger, "You know how I feel about my fellow templars, Korrin. You know I think we need to be held to a higher standard - and that failed in Kirkwall, I won't deny it. Murder, however, just begets more murder. Look what it allowed Seeker Lambert to get up to!"

[gatheringstorm]

The wine is accepted, and she nods firmly to that. "I'm a mercenary, I'm used to seeing battle and death. But I only face people that are armed and trying to kill me. Blowing up the Chantry killed a ton of civilians, people who had nothing to do with any of this. Knowing that would happen and deeming it acceptable anyway...that's a level of callousness I can't begin to understand and don't want to. By all means rebel, just don't do it with the blood of civilians."

She takes a sip of that wine to steady herself in between venting. "And you're damn right it ruined mages' reputations. I wasn't even part of a Circle and I still caught some shit in the backlash that came. There were some close calls, all because one mage decided for the rest of us."

[judgemewhole]

He nodded his head at that, because it felt like such a relief to be able to speak frankly to another mage about this (one that wasn't Sam), and was, more importantly, not afraid of him. "Both sides forgot that we are here to protect and serve the people of Thedas -- but Anders is the one who lit the damned match. Now he just ... stands there and points fingers at us for everything that happened in Kirkwall. Forgetting conveniently how much blood magic there was to begin with."

He sighed, closing his eyes, "... I can never forget. Any of it. Everything that was done weighs on my soul. How can it not weigh on his? So many left homeless, chased all across Thedas by my own insane brothers and sisters - who did this benefit? Are any of us really 'free'?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Some of us were a lot less free than others, there's no getting around that." But Korrin's not here to have the eternal debate, not when there's Anders to rip on without consequences. "If it doesn't weigh on him at all, he's a fucking monster. I wouldn't know, I've only ever had one conversation with the guy and the only reason I didn't throw him overboard is because we had a mission to accomplish. He did something monstrous and should own up to it, not expect the rest of us to act like it's water under the bridge. That's just a slap in the face to those who suffered and died. If he was still in Kirkwall, he wouldn't stand a fucking chance."

She's dead certain of that while taking a sip of that wine. Anders may have helped out with that clinic, but how many of those same people were caught in the explosion and the debris raining down afterward? Returning would be a death sentence, whatever Hawke's wishes. "Yeah, I heard it was blood magic central there. The Veil was shredded over there, and some assholes decide to use the form of magic which always makes it worse? How fucking stupid is that? The only thing they accomplished was making people fear us even more. Great job."

[judgemewhole]

"Every single time it is thrown at him - he states that the templars killed ten times more. I find that hard to believe - if that was the case then the Seekers would have shut down the entire Circle for Templar abuse, and had every Templar there executed. From Meredith to Cullen, down to Cade." No one would have escaped the Seeker's ire, and it would have been done with the blessing of the Knights Vigilant.

He huffed out a harsh breath, before he nodded, "It was. I cannot tell you the amount of overflow that sent into the region beyond, Korrin. It was overwhelming. I made my ... reputation hunting blood mages and abominations in the area all around Kirkwall. That place is a cesspool for evil."

He sipped his wine again, and grumbled into the cup. "I'm not asking for gratitude from the bastard. I'm not asking for understanding - but I want him to own his bloody crimes."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin shakes her head at mention of the Seekers, still unsure how they operate other than that they're above the Templars. "Maker willing, we'll never have to see it again. The Veil is shot to shit there, and that only makes it easier for the desperate to be stupid. Not that I can blame anyone from fearing Meredith, she sounds like a piece of work, but no one comes out of a demon's deal the better for it. Why does everyone think they'll be the grand exception?"

She takes another sip of wine before there's a chance that she'll be too worked up to remember it's there. An indelicate snort is her initial response to mention of Anders. "If he hasn't done it by now, it's not going to happen. And why should he, when he can just hide behind the Grey Wardens? Shielding him was a dumbass move, but if they want to squander all the goodwill earned from that last blight, it's their funeral." It's too bad, she actually respected the Grey Wardens for what they did and had to do to keep Thedas safe. But actively harboring the most divisive man in Thedas will never not be a stupid, stupid decision in her eyes.

[judgemewhole]

He shook his head, "Because of power. When is it anything else, when are people with dark deeds and dark hearts not tempted towards their true nature? A mage can throw a fireball, or make themselves disappear. All without a staff. Why they thought they needed to bleed people drive to 'do more' makes no sense."

He nods his head in solemn agreement, "You know, that's the one reason I have never liked the Grey Wardens. They are answerable to no one. They can take whomever they like, they can go almost anywhere they like. Yes, they save the world, but what do they do inbetween that offers them such ... freedom above the law?"

[gatheringstorm]

"That kind of extremist attitude is exactly what caused them to get played so badly by an obvious vint asshole. 'We'll do whatever it takes to end blights'; yeah, including listening to the one person you shouldn't, all while sacrificing your own people and making deals with demons, because that's worked out so well in the past. Thedas may have been wrong to ignore them after all they've done, but that whole 'ends justifies the means' shit gets real old after a while." Even Korrin, naturally hot-headed, realizes that's a slippery slope best avoided if possible.

She takes a deep breath after another sip, her tone more measured afterward. "To be fair, none of those here were involved in that shit. They fought as hard as the rest of us to stop their own, I can respect that. But it doesn't take a genius to see where that attitude stems from, and how it could become a problem again. If they don't work on that, the cycle will repeat itself sooner or later."

[judgemewhole]

"Yes, well, their ends currently have them occupying the throne in the Anderfels, so really, what does that tell you?" He snorted softly, before he took another long sip. A sigh followed that, before he nodded reluctantly. "No, the ones we have with us - even the Hawke sister - aren't a bad lot. They have fought on many fronts to improve life for those around them. If they are the new kind of Wardens, then Andraste bless. We can have meetings about reforming one's entire Order."

He thinks of Inessa, and smiles ruefully, "I would even consider one or two of them friends. I just hope they have learned from Anders. That they realize that his dedication might just be to save his own neck, and not to them."

[gatheringstorm]

Leaning back in her seat, Korrin stretches out a little though she's still mindful not to take up too much space. Smaller races can be touchy about that. "If they do, I don't know that we'll ever hear about it. Any issue that comes up, the Grey Wardens close ranks in a heartbeat. Kaisa's one of my closest Warden friends and we get along smashingly...as long as we never discuss about Anders. Only other Wardens are allowed to rip on him, I guess. Maybe."

It's one of the things they'll never agree on, and while Korrin hasn't burned that bridge, she's not trilled with the presence of blinders either. "The fact that some actively hid him still pisses me off. That could have come to bite the Inquisition in so many ways, and we're damn lucky worse hasn't happened. There's loyalty and then there's blind loyalty that endangers other people."